Telephone



(No Model.)

G. W. FOSTER Telephone. I I NO. 241,346. Patented May 10, 11881.

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N. PETERS, Photo-Lithographer. Washingmn, D. C.

UNITE STAT PATENT Grrrce.

GAY W. FOSTER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TELEPHONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,346, dated May 10, 1881.

Application filed June 14, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GAY W. FOSTER, of the city of Chicago, in the county of (look and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Telephones; and I do hereby declare that the following is a. full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation (including the image of a man, partly in section) of my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same, the image of a quadruped wholly in section being substituted for that of a man. Fig. 3 is a side ele vation enlarged of the apparatus within the chest and head of the image in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a plan view of the apparatus represented in Fig. 3, the speaking-tube I being in part broken away, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view.

The same letters denote the same parts in all the figures.

My invention relates to that class of devices which are employed to attract public attention, for purposes of advertising or otherwise, by displays of the marvelous or laughable; and

it consists in such a combination of an image representing a human being or other object with a speaking-tube and telephone apparatus as to supply a new and effective means of attracting the attention of passers-by on any street or thoroughfare to any particular store, office, or building, or of surprising and amusing persons who have come to witness an exhibition.

The following description has particular reference to the former purpose, but the modifications requisite to adapt it to the latter will be obvious to any one acquainted with the business of a showman.

An image representing a man or other object is placed in View near the office, store, or building, and so as to be within talking distance of persons passingon the street. In ahollow space in this image (preferably in the chest, if it represents a man or animal,) is supported in any comenient manner an acoustic diaphragm, a, connected by a stretched insulated wire, I), with asimilaracousticdiaphragm,a,atapointwith- (N0 model.)

in the building and more or less distant, where the operator is stationed. Below and in front ot'a, and in the samecavity, is supported in any convenient manner a microphone or telephone transmitter, c. To this are attached four insulated wires, one pair, 01 6?, connecting itwith the battery E, a third wire, f, connecting with a telephone-receiver, G, near the point where the operator is stationed, and the fourth wire, It, connecting with the wire I), which connects the acoustic diaphragms a and 0/. There is thus a closed circuit connecting the two acoustic diaphragms with each other and the microphone with the telephone-receiver.

I denotes a speaking-tube, having its mouthpiecei near the station of the operator and its three vents, "5, t and i at the mouth and ears of the image. A single vent, preferably at the mouth, might be used with good effect, though 'not in equal degree.

The tube and wires may be concealed from view by passing within the leg of the image, and thence under the sidewalk or platform to the battery or into the building or in any other convenient way. The battery is also placed out of sight in any convenient position.

The microphone may be concealed by fine linen or muslin, or any other light covering, without interfering with its effectiveness, espe cially it a Blake microphone be used.

The operator, by causing the acoustic diaphragm a to vibrate, causes the corresponding diaphragm, a, near the head of the image, to emit a loud roaring or growling noise. This is, of course more appropriate when the image is that of a beast; but it may be used in connection with any image to attract public attention.

By means of the speaking-tube the operator, concealed within the building and at a distance from persons passing on the street, is enabled to address them, and if placed where he can have a view of the street can accost particular individuals appropriately. By means of the telephone he is enabled to hear what is said by persons in the neighborhood of the image, and thus to carry on a conversation with them, which he may begin by replying to anything which such persons may have said to each other or in soliloquy, and in ignorance that they had an invisible auditor.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of an image representing a man or other object, with a speaking-tube and electric telephonic transmitter, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2; The combination of an image represent- GAY W. FOSTER.

Witnesses:

bro. 0. M-CGREGOR, W. G. CORLIES. 

